NEWS AND NOTES.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 1751, 10 November 1917, Page 4

NEWS AND NOTES.

He was a very diminutive sergeant, but was far from being small and sweet. “You, Privat’ Bran/' be bawled to a tall native of Yorkshire, “’old yer ’ead up. There ain’t no threepenny bits lying about.” The country lad asked, “Shall I always look oop, sergeant?” “Always,” was the fierce reply, “Then,” in a pathetic whisper, Privat’ Brim said, as he lifted his face to the skies, “Good-bye, sergeant, for I shall never see thee any more!” Enormous profits have been made by some of the leading American motor concerns as the result of the war. One company which made £1,400,000 in 1914 increased its profits to £5,600,000 in 1916. It is interesting to note that there are 450 motor car manufacturing firms in the United Slates. Of these, twelve companies are responsible for no less than 80 per cent, of the total production, leaving only 20 per cent, for the remaining 438 firms. How the Rev. Stephen Parr, of New Zealand’s Chaplain Department, won his Military Cross, is thus told officially: “He showed a splendid fearlessness and devotion in attending to wounded under heavy shell fire on the battlefield. Later he personally led stretcherbearers to the front line, and assisted to collect and evacuate the wounded. Owing to his energy and resource, the battlefield was cleared of wounded by the evening. His disregard of personal safety and cheerfulness under trying circumstances did much to maintain the spirits of the men.” During the operations of the Egyptian Expeditionary Force in Palestine a town to the south of Beersheba was captured, and in it a splendid example of Mosaic pavement was discovered. A chaplain to the forces was placed in charge of the excavation of it, and in the course of the work some human bones were discovered. The padre was elated at the find, and immediately wired to his G.H.Q., saying: “Have found bones of saint.” A little while after the reply came back; “Unable to trace Saint in casualty list. Obtain particulars of regimental number and .. regiment from his identity disc.” A telegram from Rome to London recently stated that Prince Mirko of Montenegro, the second son of King Nicholas, had secured a divorce from his wife, Princess Natalie, on the ground of incompatibility of character. King Nicholas has undertaken the care of the children of the union. Prince Mirko, the younger son of King Nicholas of Montenegro, is rather a dashing young man of 38. He gained great popularity during the war with Turkey in 1912, when he showed great bravery. He created rather a scandal when in 1902 he married Natalie Constantinovitch, the daughter of a Trieste merchant of no particular standing. His sisters, who have married well, including the Queen of Italy, were highly scandalised. Prince Mirko is quite likely to succeed his father, as Prince Danilo is not popular, and is strongly suspected of being proGerman. Prince Mirko has three young sons. Princess Natalie is in her 36th year.